Merry Christmas from the boys and girls

Here's Zachary and Tyler with the ever-present dogs, Jenna and Emma. We're all looking forward to school being out - zach gets out friday, tyler next weds. We need some hangout time and some not getting up in the morning time!

Today I fly to Tampa for my tv interview! Tyler is sick, so please pray for him. It's so awesome that my good friend Karen is staying with the kids. I'm not very relaxed about leaving the kids, but I feel totally confident that she can handle anything! I'll actually do the interview tomorrow betweeen 10 and 11. It will be taped - not sure when it will be aired but I'll keep you posted.

Then Friday I was going to go to Atlanta but decided not to. Just too much going on. I miss my friends there and it was going to be so much fun to have all that time with Amy... another time. Scott and I will go to some Christmas parties and basketball games this weekend and I'm really hoping he'll have some days off next week. I miss him...

Thinking of Minnesota

This morning was wonderfully cold - about 25 degrees. I needed a few things at the grocery, so decided just to run in on my way home from dropping off Tyler at school.
I parked in front of the Harris Teeter and decided just to leave my car running while I ran in quickly.

Doing that totally reminded me of being in Scott's hometown in Backus, Minnesota. Scott grew up in a little town and I grew up in the suburbs, so I love seeing where and how he grew up, hearing stories. I remember one of the first times I went to Minnesota how everyone ran into the store and just left their cars running and I just thought that was cool. And they'll leave their cars running a long time sometimes, like when they go to a restaurant.

I remember being fascinated with things like the plug in heaters at parking spaces, ice fishing, snow mobiling, walking in snowy, quiet woods. What a beautiful place. I know my Minnesota relatives get very tired of snow and cold by the end of the winter, but for a few days I always love it.

When Zachary was younger, Scott took just Zachary to Minnesota a few times and they had such a fun time just the two of them. Now this January Tyler will take a trip with Scott, just the two of them for the first time. Tyler talks about it a lot and looks at the calendar to see when it is. There's only one problem - Tyler hates to be cold. He usually just cries when he's really cold. We'll have to get him some really warm clothes and he can stay inside a lot.:)

I love you and miss you, Minnesota friends and relatives!

This Week

As my friend Catherine says, life is rich and full...

1. Last Saturday I spoke at my church's Christmas Tea. This is the first time Southbrook had this event and it turned out so great! Each table has a hostess who is in charge of decorating her table in a Christmas theme, so each table was just unique and beauitful. I was so honored to speak, very emotional speaking at my own church, a place i've loved for 8 years, and just looking out at so many people who have been such awesome friends. I was more nervous for this event than any event I've ever done! Thank you to those of you who prayed for me!

2. Then I raced to pick up Tyler for his guitar lesson! He got an early Christmas present of a guitar and is taking lessons from a former neighbor, Garrett Osepchuk. I think he's going to love it!

3. Then I went with Mandy to the 91.9 Christmas concert - New Song, Todd Agnew, and Rachel Lampa sang and it truly was one of the most worshipful events I've ever been to. I lucked out because Mandy's husband Butch was out of town, so i got to be her date. I will definitely make plans to go to this next year, that's how good it was! I introduced myself to Joe Paulo, whom I had emailed about my book because the Vaughans told him about it. And then Mandy introduced me to Leslie and I gave her one of my books. just figuring the more hands it's in the better!

4. Zachary's first basketball game of the season was Sunday and he scored 19 points - yahoo!

5. Then just playing catchup this week, doing some writing, got a cold, scott's been gone but got home last night.

6. Wednesday I went to Concord to see my good friend Karen, my college buddy. We had fun as always. She has the biggest live Christmas tree I've ever seen in a house!
Next week I fly to Tampa for a tv interview about my book - i'll post more about that later, just please pray that God will get the glory and that my book will get in the hands of those who need it. I was worried about who would babysit overnight - and Karen's going to do it! Her kids are older, so she can spend the night here Weds. and that will just ease my mind so much!

7. And finally I'm praising God for these book sales: 2025 books sold in November, for a total of 10,501 in the six months your book has been out.

Proverbs 31 devotional

Hi friends, I will write a longer blog this week, but just wanted to say I'm excited to have my first devotional published with Proverbs 31 devotions. You can click on the Proverbs 31 link on my sidebar and then you'll see the devotional there. You can also sign up for the devotions and receive one each day. If you haven't done this, I think you'd really be glad you did as they are a quick way to set your eyes on the Lord at the beginning of the day.